“Guest posts… They’re not just for NaNo anymore.”

As part of my NaNoWriMo Halo Giveaway, I offered all of the folks who signed up a chance to write a guest post for How Not To Write.

Well, I thought it was such fun that I’d like to make it a regular feature. After all, this site is all about writers learning to deal with the personal roadblocks in writing by watching me make a fool out of myself, so why not share the love? 🙂

All of the writer profiles posted on the site end up in the writer profiles category. So, drop by there if you’re interested in seeing what’s been written so far.

I think you’ll be amazed at the variety of people who have submitted posts. I know I am. I’m also proud to share their words here and I hope you’ll take a moment to leave a comment or word of encouragement.

Writing a Guest Post

If you’re interested in writing a guest post of your own, here’s what you need to do:

1) Write a blog post between 500 and 1500 words about writing. I’ll leave the focus up to you, but considering the readership of How Not to Write you might want to write about facing your writing fears, struggles and breakthroughs, or even just about being nervous. Just make sure it’s about writing in some way…

Still don’t know what to write about? How about:

• I knew I was a writer when…
• Here’s how I failed and how it inspired me to try, try again
• Why writing keeps me sane
• How writing saved my life
• I’m not just the President of the Writer’s Block Club, I’m also a member.
• 50 reasons to love Jamie 🙂

2) Provide a brief bio and profile picture (no wider than 300px). You may include links in the bio to your website or other online profiles. The picture can be your own smiling face, but it doesn’t need to be if you’re shy. Try to be classy folks. Seriously. Please remember that The Internet is Forever.

3) Proofread. I’m a horrid proofer myself so if there are errors in your post you can expect about 1,000+ people to see them. No pressure. 🙂

4) Give it a Title

5) Email it to me – editor@hownottowrite.com

What Happens Next

I’ll get your post and read it and then I’ll love it up and send you warm thank yous by email. It will make you smile and hug yourself and say pleasant things… Of course, then I’ll post it and you’ll freak out because you’ve been published!

After the post goes live, you’ll come to the site and see who’s commented and you’ll participate in the comments. Unless of course you don’t care about comments or connecting with others which sort of makes me wonder why you’d write a guest post in the first place.

A Word About Style

I’m not going to tell you how to write, but I will say that more people are likely to read and comment on your post if you break it up into three sentence paragraphs. I don’t know why that is, perhaps it is easier to read on the screen or maybe it’s just an attention-span thing. Whatever it is, my experience is that people tend to connect more with posts written this way.

Have Fun!

By reading all the way to this point, I’m thinking that you’re interested in writing a post. What’s holding you back? Go for it! And by all means, have fun!!!

— Jamie